Clarity. Advocacy. Simplicity. Creativity. I like making connections. Not to confuse but to understand. From inspiring to amusing to unexpected ... to politically progressive. Between people, places, things. Ideas, beliefs, words. Events, issues, solutions. To explain. To enjoy. To grow. To advise. For fun, call me Garbl. I'm an acronym!

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Monday, May 28, 2012

You CAN be creative! You do NOT have to be an artist, painter or musician to be creative. You didn't "lose" your creativity when you became an adult.

OK, now that THAT is out of the way, what does writer Noch Noch say about it? He briefly describes creativity:

The definition of creativity encompasses the act of forming new ideas, transcending traditional rules or patterns. Thus, it is a concept that can be applicable anywhere.

Note the emphasis I added. That mean you, the person reading this word and this word and this word right now.

Noch writes:

Creativity is not a mysterious force only a precious few have. It takes work and time to develop. We can get better at creativity. It is a skill. I have been reading about creativity recently, and particularly take to a book by Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way. Once we are in tune with our creative selves, we can apply those skills in our daily work. ...

At the fragile start of a new idea, it is essential to guard the shaky ground [your] inner child is on. Protect [your] craziness from those who laugh at [you], especially as they are doing so out of jealousy they hadn’t discovered what [you] have.

In other words, distance yourself from cynics at least temporarily to create a safe environment for your inner child to grow.

2. Embrace shame

We are conditioned by society and growing up that certain things makes us look silly. Curiosities are suppressed because we are afraid of others’ judgment and an otherwise brilliant idea is trashed.

In other words, if you're embarrassed doing something, keep doing it anyway (as long as it isn't immoral or unethical). You might discover something cool!

3. Cut the excuses

We invent excuses and obstacles that are not authentic problems. ... Stop rationalizing!

In other words, for example, you are not too old or too young to pursue your dreams. And you probably have the time to do it.

4. Forget perfectionism

As Cameron writes writes:

Perfectionism is a refusal to let yourself move ahead. It is a loop – an obsessive, debilitating closed system that causes you to get stuck in the details of what you are writing or painting or making and to lose sight of the whole. Instead of creating freely and allowing errors to reveal themselves later as insights, we often get mired in getting the details right. ...

5. Creative growth is erratic

Creativity is a skill that can be acquired. Like every other skill it takes practice and time. The growth is an erratic movement. Today we might do well but tomorrow we might be sluggish. Let the creative soul rest every now and then.

For more information, check out Garbl's Creativity Resources Online. It's an annotated directory of websites that provide advice for increasing creativity and innovation in your writing, in your personal life, on the job, in school, in the arts and elsewhere. Many of the sites have links to other resources on creativity.